UNIV - Research Specialist - Pharmacology and Immunology

Job Description Summary

The cell death/cellular bucket list pathways should be beneficial during infection but could be mutated and become detrimental in cancer.

The Nozaki lab, started at MUSC from Sep 1st , 2024, aims to uncover fundamental understanding of intestinal immunity during infection and inflammation, especially by focusing on cell death and its associated pathways. The lab also aims to elucidate how intestinal inflammation affects tumor evolution and its microenvironment, and how those mechanisms can be applied to therapeutics.

To achieve this goal, the lab will develop novel mouse models as well as novel organoid models which can analyze the complicated death signaling and cell-to-cell, host-pathogen interactions.

Under the direct supervision of the Principal Investigator, a Research Specialist I is needed to support immunology research for the analysis of mouse gut tissues and cells. Responsible for mouse maintenance, mouse sample preparation and analysis for PCR/qPCRs, Western Blots, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, maintaining instrumentation and laboratory resources. Having experience of those techniques is a plus, but not necessarily required. The lab can provide various training opportunities.

• 30% Performs preparation of mouse tissues for analysis. This includes mouse dissection / tissue harvesting, histopathology analysis, cell culture, molecular cloning, cell transfection / infection, quantitative real time PCR, Western blot, immunostaining, microscopy, and flow cytometry.
• 20% Performs mouse colony maintenance including mouse breeding, genotyping.
• 15% Maintains laboratory equipment by performing checklist systems suitability and required maintenance.
• 15% Assists in ordering reagents and laboratory supplies, and keeping the lab safe, clean and compliant by maintaining a neat work space, wearing appropriate personal protective equipment, and helping with labeling and inspection of laboratory items and solutions.
• 10% Maintains a detailed notebook of experiments performed and where data is stored.
• 10% Assists in preparing grant writing and IACUC protocols and amendments when appropriate.

A bachelor's degree in immunology, or molecular/cell biology.

A high school diploma and two years work experience in a clinical or research setting; a bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, or other natural, life or health care science may be substituted for the two years of required experience.

• Continuous - 6-8 hours per shift.
• Frequent - 2-6 hours per shift.
• Infrequent - 0-2 hours per shift.
• Ability to perform job functions in an upright position. (Frequent)
• Ability to perform job functions in a seated position. (Continuous)
• Ability to perform job functions while walking/mobile. (Frequent)
• Ability to climb, using step stool. (Infrequent)
• Ability to work in temperature extremes (32° F to 100°
  
  F) when required due to assignments in cold rooms and/or foreign countries. (Infrequent)
• Ability to work in confined/cramped spaces. (Continuous)
• Ability to bend at the waist. (Frequent)
• Ability to twist at the waist. (Frequent)
• Ability to fully use both hands/arms. (Continuous)
• Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders. (Frequent)
• Ability to fully use both legs. (Frequent)
• Ability to reach in all directions, stretch, bend, while moving items/materials from both sitting and standing positions. (Frequent)
• Ability to maintain good olfactory sensory function/distinction. (Continuous)
• Ability to lift materials up to 20 lbs., unassisted. (Infrequent)
• Ability to lift and carry 4 liter waste material bottles a distance of 30 feet, unassisted. (Frequent)
• Ability to lift and carry 25-30 lbs. jugs of liquid a distance of 100 feet, unassisted. (Infrequent)
• Ability to lift file boxes, from floor level to counter tops, unassisted. (Frequent)
• Ability to push/ lift 40 lbs. centrifuge rotors from floor level to height of 40 inches, then down 20 inches into centrifuge drum, unassisted. (Infrequent)
• Ability to lift 25 lbs. boxes, from floor level to maximum height of 72 inches, unassisted. (Infrequent)
• Abil…